“Papa, when are you coming back? I’ll be waiting for you,” the voice of a young girl quivered, her face clouded with a mixture of sadness and worry. She looked up at the man before her, her wide eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

A warm hand gently patted her head, offering what little comfort it could. “I can’t promise I’ll be back soon, dear, but wait for me,” the man said, his voice soft yet carrying the weight of uncertainty.

The girl’s lips trembled, but she managed a brave smile, nodding firmly as if her small act of courage could somehow bridge the distance between them.

Arthur sat on the sofa, releasing a heavy sigh. His gaze drifted to Alice, who stood in the kitchen preparing lunch. The soft clatter of utensils and the aroma of cooking filled the air, wrapping the room in a comforting warmth. Watching her move about, he couldn’t help but reflect on how much her presence had changed his life. The nightmares and traumas that had once haunted him were slowly retreating, replaced by moments of peace he never thought he’d have again.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, breaking his thoughts. Alice glanced toward the door and saw him lounging on the sofa.

“Arthur, can you see who’s at the door?” she asked, her voice gentle but insistent.

He stood immediately, crossing the room in a few strides to open the door. But when he did, he found nothing there. The porch was empty, the faint sound of birds chirping the only noise around.

“Mister, mister, I’m here.”

A small voice called out, startling him. He glanced down to find a young girl, no older than seven or eight, standing at his feet. Her face was serious, her dark eyes fixed on him with an intensity far beyond her years.

“What can I do for you, miss?” Arthur asked, lowering his voice to sound as approachable as possible.

“Where is my father?” she asked bluntly, her tone unwavering.

The question caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words.

They brought the girl inside, seating her at the dining table. She sat quietly, her small hands resting on her lap as she glanced around the room. Arthur leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Alice placed a bowl of mashed potatoes in front of the girl, her kind smile never wavering. “Are you hungry, dear?”

The girl nodded enthusiastically, her eyes lighting up at the sight of food. She picked up the spoon and began eating eagerly, as though she hadn’t had a proper meal in days.

Alice exchanged a concerned glance with Arthur, her expression growing serious. “Do you know this child?” she asked in a low voice.

He shook his head. “No. But she’s looking for her father.”

The girl set her empty bowl down gently, clasping her hands together as if in prayer. “Thank you for the food,” she said politely.

“You’re welcome,” Alice replied, taking the bowl and carrying it to the sink.

The girl turned her gaze back to Arthur, her expression once again serious. “Excuse me for intruding, but do you know where my father is?”

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Arthur sat across from her, studying her face carefully. “What’s your name, miss?”

“I’m An Fredway,” she said. “I’m waiting for my papa to come back from the war. My grandpa told me he’s in a faraway place I can’t reach yet.”

The room fell silent. Arthur and Alice exchanged uneasy glances. The war had ended over a year ago, and those who hadn’t returned by now were gone.

Arthur exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of her words settle over him like a stone. “Can I ask you something, An?” he said gently.

“Sure, mister. What is it?” she replied, her eyes searching his face.

“What made you come here?”

She hesitated, her small hands gripping the edge of the table. “Everyone in the village knows you’re a soldier. My papa is a soldier too. Since you’re here, I thought he would be too. But... he’s not.”

Her voice cracked slightly, but she held herself together, her serious expression masking the fear and confusion in her heart.

Alice reached out and patted her head softly, breaking the heavy silence. “How about we take a stroll through the village, An?” she suggested, her voice bright and cheerful.

An nodded, a faint smile appearing on her lips, though Arthur could see it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“That’s a good idea,” Arthur added, his voice steady. “After lunch, you can go for a stroll. I’ll meet you later at the big tree on the hill to the east. Bring a blanket, and we’ll have a picnic there.”

Alice looked at him, surprised. “You’re not coming with us now?”

He shook his head. “I’ve got something to take care of first. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Alice and An exchanged glances, their initial hesitation giving way to excitement at the idea of a picnic. For a brief moment, the tension in the room lifted, replaced by a flicker of happiness.

As they finished eating lunch, Alice and An went out to stroll through the village. Arthur went to his room and moved the cabinet aside, revealing a hidden door behind it. When he opened the door, he found an old telephone inside, once used for secret military communications. He sat down in the chair and started dialing the number to connect with the headquarters.

For a couple of minutes, the only sound he heard was the rhythmic beep of the line. Thanks to his patience, he eventually managed to get through.

“Hello, good afternoon, officer. How can I help you?” A man’s voice answered from the other side of the telephone.

“Good afternoon to you as well. This is Colonel Arthur. I need you to look for a person named Fredway. He is a soldier who went to war a year ago. This is very important information for me. Please find his current situation and update me as soon as possible,” Arthur said, his tone firm yet carrying a subtle hint of sadness. Deep down, he already knew the answer. Most of the survivors who went to war had already returned to their hometowns.

He gripped the telephone tightly, biting his lip.

“Good to know you’re doing fine, Colonel. Please hold for a couple of minutes while I search for the name Fredway in our military records. I’ll also check the list of our fallen heroes,” the man replied respectfully.

The silence that followed was unbearable. Arthur stared at the ceiling, its dim light seeming to stretch shadows across the room. The darkness felt suffocating, dragging him into his thoughts. Memories of the war clawed at him, the trauma and nightmares he had been trying to bury now flooding back with brutal force. His chest felt heavy, and the absence of Alice’s calming presence only deepened the void. He gripped the armrest of the chair, his knuckles white, his lip trembling as he fought back the overwhelming emotions.

Suddenly, the telephone rang. The sharp sound jolted him back to his senses. He immediately picked it up, his voice steadier than he felt.

“Good afternoon, Colonel. Apologies for the wait. I have the information on Fredway. Unfortunately, he was one of the soldiers who didn’t survive the war. He died shortly after being sent to the battlefield,” the man said, pausing briefly.

Arthur was left speechless. Though he had suspected this outcome, hearing it spoken aloud hit harder than he anticipated. His eyes widened as he gripped the telephone tighter.

“Colonel, may I ask why you were looking for Fredway’s information?” the man asked cautiously.

Arthur took a deep breath, forcing himself to respond. His voice was low, almost breaking under the weight of his words. “Today, I met his daughter. She asked me why her father hasn’t come home.”

“Daughter?” The man on the other end sounded genuinely confused, which made Arthur frown.

After a couple of minutes, the call ended. Arthur placed the receiver down, his hand trembling slightly. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he whispered to himself, “I see...”